Method and system of forecasting compaction performance

ABSTRACT

The present invention is associated with a system and method of managing a compaction process. The method may include establishing a soil characteristic and establishing a machine performance characteristic in response to the soil characteristic. The machine performance characteristic may include a predictive compaction characteristic associated with a particular machine.

This application claims the benefit of prior provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/532,206 filed Dec. 22, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a method and system of managing soilcompaction, and more particularly to a method and system of predicting apredicting a compaction characteristic associated with a soil region.

BACKGROUND

Soil compaction is a time consuming and labor intensive process.

In general, bids will be solicited for jobs involving soil compaction.The solicitor will generally specify a desired compaction density forthe soil region to be compacted. Because soil compaction is so resourceintensive, underestimating the effort (time, resources etc.) needed tocompact a particular region can have significant economic impact on thecontractor winning the job. However, there is not an adequate method forpredicting the effort and resources needed to perform soil compaction,e.g., what machines are capable of performing the compaction etc. Inaddition, while there are some systems that exist today that providefeedback during the compaction process, there is not a system thatadequately uses the feedback to coordinate the compaction process withmultiple machines.

The present disclosure is directed towards solving one or more of theproblems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of managing soilcompaction is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining asite-specific soil characteristic, and determining a machine performancecharacteristic based on the site-specific soil characteristic.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system configured tomanage soil compaction is disclosed. The system includes a processorconfigured to determine a site-specific soil characteristic anddetermine a machine performance characteristic based on thesite-specific soil characteristic. The system also includes a userinterface to receive information associated with the soil, and a displayconfigured to display one or more of the soil and machine performancecharacteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to manage acompaction process;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of managing a compactionprocess;

FIG. 3 illustrates a display showing soil characteristics of a currentsoil, a reference soil and actual compaction characteristics of thereference soil; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a machine being selected for analysis via the userinterface, and analyzed in light of the soil characteristics

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure includes a system and method of managing soilcompaction. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system 102 configuredto manage soil compaction. The system 102 may include a controller 104configured to establish a site-specific soil characteristic andestablish a machine performance in response to the site-specific soilcharacteristic. The system 102 may also include a user interface 106configured to receive inputs associated with the soil compaction from auser, and a display 108 configured to display information associatedwith the soil compaction. In addition, the system 102 may include arepository 110 configured to store information associated with the soilcompaction. For example, the database may include data associated withpreviously analyzed soil. The data may include lab analysis of the soil,compaction predictions associated with the soil, and actual compactioncharacteristics associated with the soil. As will be described below,the system 102 may include a communication device 112 configured tocommunicate with a remote entity regarding the soil compaction. Examplesof the remote entity include a remote data facility 114, or one or moremachines 116 involved in the compaction process. The communicationdevice 112 includes a wireless communication network and/or a landline.For example, the system 102 may communicate compaction information to amachine involved in the compaction process. In addition, the system 102may include a web-based interface such that users at the remote datafacility or compaction machine may access the web site and obtaindesired compaction information.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the method associated with thepresent disclosure. In a first control block 202 a soil characteristic(e.g., a site specific soil characteristic) may be determined. In oneembodiment, a soil characteristic may be determined by taking one ormore physical soil samples at the site to be compacted and analyzing thesample(s). The soil characteristics may include a compositioncharacteristic of the soil and/or a predictive compaction characteristicof the soil. The analysis may include one or more procedures todetermine a predictive compaction characteristic of the soil. Forexample the procedures may include a Proctor analysis to determine apredictive compaction density of the particular soil as a function ofwater content. As will be discussed, other procedures may includedetermining compaction density as a function of energy level and watercontent. For example, instead of analyzing a predictive compactiondensity of the soil at a single energy level, multiple energy levels andmultiple water density levels are used to establish more detailedpredictive compaction density associated with the soil.

In one embodiment, the predictive compaction density characteristics ofthe soil may be further enhanced by comparing the current soil samplecharacteristics to previously sampled soil. Information associated withpreviously sampled soil may be maintained in a repository. The storedinformation may include the soil characteristics of the soil, thepredictive compaction characteristics of the soil, the procedures usedto establish the predictive characteristics, and/or actual compactioncharacteristics of the soil. Therefore, soil characteristics of thesampled soil may be compared with soil characteristics of previouslysampled soils. The comparison may identify the previously sampled soilhaving soil characteristics most similar to the currently sampled soil.The actual compaction characteristics of the previously sampled soil(the reference soil) may be used to establish, or refine, the predictivecompaction characteristics of the current soil. For example,interpolation and/or extrapolation factors may be established for thecurrent soil by comparing the reference soil characteristics to thecurrent soil characteristics. The factors may then be used to establishpredictive compaction characteristics of the current soil based on theactual compaction characteristics of the reference soil. FIG. 3illustrates a display showing the soil characteristics of the currentsoil, the reference soil and actual compaction characteristics of thereference soil.

In a second control block 204, a machine performance characteristic maybe determined in response to the site-specific soil characteristic.Machine performance characteristics may include determining whether thesoil can be compacted to a specified level, what machine characteristicsmay be needed to compact the soil to a specified level, whether a givenmachine may compact the soil to the specified level, recommending adesired machine from a plurality of machines to compact the soil,determining how many passes a given machine will need to compact thesoil, determining a confidence level of achieving a specified compactiondensity. For example, the system 102 may establish a desired compactiondensity (e.g., the user may establish this). The system 102 may thenestablish whether the soil can be compacted to that density based on thesoil characteristics (e.g., the predictive compaction characteristics ofthe soil), and also what machine characteristics may be needed (ordesired) to compact the soil to the desired density. The machinecharacteristics may include machine energy dissipation characteristicssuch as the machine weight, machine roller size, whether the machine hasvibratory compaction capability etc. The system 102 may establish valuesfor these desired characteristics, or ranges of values. For example, thesystem 102 may establish that in order to compact the soil to thedesired density, a machine of a particular weight class is necessary,with a particular roller size, and whether the machine needs to includevibratory compaction capability. In an alternative embodiment,information about a particular machine, or group of machines may beprovided to the system 102 (e.g., either through the database or enteredby the user), and the system 102 may analyze the machine(s) to determinewhich one, if any will be able to compact the soil to the desiredensity. FIG. 4 illustrates a machine being selected for analysis viathe user interface, and analyzed in light of the soil characteristics.In one embodiment, the system 102 may review a list of machines anddetermine which one or more of the machines may be able to compact thesoil to the desired density. The list may include the machines providedby one or more manufacturers and/or the machines that are owned oravailable to a particular user. The system may then recommend which oneor more of the machines may be able to compact the soil as desired.

In one embodiment, machine performance characteristics may includeproductivity characteristics, or compaction process characteristics.Examples of compaction process characteristics may include the desiredspeed to be used by a particular machine to achieve the desiredcompaction density of the designated soil, an amount of time needed by aparticular machine to achieve the desired compaction density, a numberof passes needed by a particular machine to achieve the desired density,and a confidence level that a particular machine will achieve thedesired compaction density in a particular number of passes.

In one embodiment, the machine performance characteristics aredetermined by establishing the soil characteristics and establishing oneor more desired compaction characteristics, such as a desired compactiondensity, a desired lift thickness, the number of desired lifts, thenumber of desired mats. Based on the soil characteristics, the system102 may determine whether the desired compaction characteristics areobtainable, with what confidence, and by what machine.

In one embodiment, the established soil characteristic and desiredcompaction density may be used to determine compaction processcharacteristics such as the desired lift thickness, the number of lifts,and whether any soil additives are needed to achieve the desiredcompaction density. In one embodiment, when a particular machine isbeing reviewed to determine whether it is capable of compacting the soilto the desired density, additional factors may be accounted for asmentioned above, such as whether any soil additives are needed to helpachieve the desired density, the number of lifts that are needed forthis particular machine etc.

As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the system 102 may select amachine to perform the compaction. For example, the system may predict acompaction performance of one or more machines based on the soilcharacteristics and the machine performance characteristics. The machinethat is predicted to achieve the desired compaction would berecommended. If no machine is predicted to achieve the desiredcompaction, the system may notify the user of this. In one embodiment,the system may perform additional analysis to assess whether theaddition of soil additives, changes in lift thickness, or changes inmoisture content would result in one or more of the machines being ableto achieve the desired compaction. If so, the system may recommend themachine achieving the desired compaction and notify the user of theadditional compaction process characteristics needed to achieve thecompaction. If multiple machines are able to achieve the desiredcompaction, then additional analysis may be performed to recommend aparticular machine based on predicted compaction results, andproductivity characteristics. For example, a machine that weighs moremay have more operational costs (e.g., fuel costs, maintenance costetc.) associated with it than a lighter machine. If both can achieve thedesired compaction, then the machine having lower operating cost may berecommended. Other productivity characteristics that may be accountedfor include the speed at which a machine can go, the width of theroller, the number of passes needed by the machine etc.

Therefore, compaction performance characteristics and/or productivitycharacteristics of designated machines may be used to recommend amachine to compact a specified soil or soil region.

In one embodiment, the system 102 may determine additional compactionprocess characteristics such as whether multiple machines may be usefulto perform the desired compaction, the compaction routes of therecommended machines, the speed of the machines etc. For example, thearea to be compacted may be provided to the system 102, e.g., based onGPS coordinates etc. Based on the designated area, and the establishedsoil characteristics, the system may determine if different types ofcompaction machines would be useful (e.g., if there are variations inthe soil characteristics in the region), and determine the number ofmachines that may be used to compact the soil region. The system 102 mayuse desired productivity information to determine how many machinesshould be working in a compaction region at a given time. For example,the system may determine if different machine sizes may be useful incompacting the soil (to address variations in soil composition), andalso whether multiple machines may useful to achieve the desiredproductivity characteristics.

The system 102 may designate desired routes of the machines (e.g.,designate compaction zones or areas for particular machines), and thenumber of passes each machine will need. Therefore the system is capableof performing route planning and route management. As will be discussedbelow, as the actual compaction is occurring, measurements may bedynamically taken that will enable the designated routes/passes to beupdated while compaction is in progress.

In one embodiment, the machine performance characteristics may beupdated based upon a rainfall that occurred after the soil sample(s) wastaken.

This update may enable a more reliable prediction regarding compactioncapability. In addition, the compaction prediction, including machineselection, may be reviewed in light of a current moisture level, orpredicted rainfall etc. For example, in bid analysis, predicted rainfallmay be used to plan the compaction process, e.g., the type(s) ofmachines needed, the impact of rain on achieving the desired compactiondensity etc. If the soil sample was taken in a dry season, andcompaction is to occur in a more humid or rainy season, then this may betaken into account with productivity and compaction predictions, basedon the sensitivity of the ability to compact the soil to moisture, andthe ability of a machine to compact the soil based on the moisturecontent.

The established soil characteristics, machine performancecharacteristics, and/or the productivity characteristics may be used tomanage the compaction process. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.4, a system 402, which may be on-board and/or off board, may be used tomonitor the actual compaction process. The system 402 may includehardware and software on the machine performing the compaction, and mayalso include a remote facility, such as system 102, and or a secondremote facility 404. For example, the system 402 may be able todetermine the current compaction density, and from that predict how manyadditional passes will be needed, and update the compaction route andcharacteristics etc.

The system may be able to dynamically determine whether the desiredcompaction density is achievable based on machine characteristics. Inaddition, the system may be able to identify portions of the compactionregion that are not compacting as predicted, and also make additionalcompaction recommendations, such as update the prediction regarding thenumber of passes it will take to achieve the desired level, or makerecommendations regarding locally applying soil additives to aparticular region. In one embodiment, the system may recommend that asecond machine compact a particular portion of the soil region. Forexample, if, during compaction, the system determines that there is ahot region (e.g., a region that is not compacting as predicted), thesystem 402 (or one of the remote systems) may determine that a secondmachine (e.g., a heavier machine and/or a vibratory compactor etc.) maybe used to compact the specified hot region. The system may communicatedirectly, or indirectly with the second machine to notify it of thedesignated hot region, and communicate appropriate compactioncharacteristics, e.g., how many times the hot region has been passedover, and with what machine, what the current compaction characteristicsof the zone are, and what the desired compaction density of the zone isetc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure includes a system and method of managing soilcompaction. The method includes the steps of determining a soilcharacteristic and determining a machine performance characteristic inresponse to the soil characteristic. In one embodiment, one or more soilsamples may be taken at a site that is desired to be compacted. Soilcharacteristics may be established based on the soil samples. The soilcharacteristics may include composition properties of the soil andpredictive compaction characteristics of the soil. A user may enterdesired compaction characteristics into the system 102, such as desiredcompaction density etc. The user may request that a machine berecommended that is capable of achieving the desired compactioncharacteristics. The system 102 may responsively recommend one or moremachines capable of achieving the desired compaction characteristics. Inone embodiment, the system 102 may recommended multiple machines toaccomplish the compaction, assign compaction routes to the machines, andpredict productivity characteristics associated with the machines. Inone embodiment, these route assignments may be delivered to compactionmachines, and used by the machines (or operators of the machine) tobegin compaction.

As the region is being compacted, machine parameters may be sensed thatwill enable an actual compaction characteristic to be established. Forexample, the system (either the on-board system or a remote system) maydetermine the actual compaction that has occurred, compare the actualwith the predicted compaction and update the compaction characteristicsaccordingly. For example, if the soil is not compacting as fast aspredicted, the system may determine that more passes will be needed bythe current machine. Alternatively the system may determine that thecurrent machine will not be able to achieve the desired compactionresults for a particular region, e.g., a hot region. The system maynotify a second machine that is capable of dissipating more energy intothe soil to compact the identified hot region. Alternatively, or inaddition, the system may determine that soil additives need to be usedon the hot region, establish the amount and type of additives needed,and then communicate the information to machines having the additives,or operators/managers able to have the additives delivered to thedesignated region. In this manner, the system is able to dynamicallymonitor and respond to the compaction process as it occurs.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can beobtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the claims.

1. A method of managing soil compaction comprising the steps of:determining a site specific soil characteristic; and determining amachine performance characteristic based on said site-specific soilcharacteristic.
 2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprisingthe step of managing said soil compaction in response to said machineselection.
 3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising thestep of recommending a machine to compact said soil in response to saidmachine performance characteristics.
 4. A method, as set forth in claim3, wherein said machine performance characteristic includes a predictivecompaction performance characteristic.
 5. A method, as set forth inclaim 4, wherein said compaction performance characteristic includes atleast one of a number of passes with said recommended machine an amountof time using said selected machine.
 6. A method, as set forth in claim3, wherein the step of predicting said compaction performance includesthe steps of predicting said compaction performance in response to saidsoil characteristic and a machine compaction energy characteristic.
 7. Amethod, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said machine compaction energycharacteristic includes at least one of a weight of said selectedmachine, a roller size of said selected machine, and a vibratorycapability of said selected machine.
 8. A method, as set forth in claim6, wherein the step of predicting said compaction performance includesthe steps of predicting said compaction performance in response to saidsoil characteristic, a machine compaction energy characteristic, and alift characteristic.
 9. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein thestep of selecting said machine further comprises the step ofrecommending a machine based on said soil characteristic.
 10. A method,as set forth in claim 9, wherein the step of recommending said machinefurther comprises the steps of: selecting a potential machine from aplurality of machines; predicting a compaction performancecharacteristic in response to said soil characteristic and saidpotential machine; and recommending said potential machine in responseto said prediction.
 11. A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein thestep of predicting said compaction performance includes the steps ofpredicting said compaction performance in response to said soilcharacteristic and a machine compaction energy characteristic.
 12. Amethod, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said machine compaction energycharacteristic includes at least one of a weight of said potentialmachine, a roller size of said potential machine, and a vibratorycapability of said potential machine.
 13. A method, as set forth inclaim 10, wherein the step of predicting said compaction performanceincludes the steps of predicting said compaction performance in responseto said soil characteristic a machine compaction energy characteristicand a lift characteristic.
 14. A method, as set forth in claim 1,wherein the step of selecting said machine further comprises the step ofselecting said machine from a plurality of different types of machines.15. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of selectingsaid machine further comprises the step of selecting a plurality ofmachines to perform said soil compaction.
 16. A method, as set forth inclaim 15, wherein at least two of said plurality of machines aredifferent types of machines.
 17. A method, as set forth in claim 14,wherein the step of managing said compaction further comprises the stepof assigning a compaction area to each of said plurality of machines.18. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the step of managingsaid compaction further comprises the step of determining a compactionroute for each of said plurality of machines.
 19. A method, as set forthin claim 1, wherein the step of managing said compaction furthercomprises the step of dynamically determining when at least a portion ofa desired compaction is achieved in response to a machinecharacteristic.
 20. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stepof managing said compaction further comprises the step of determiningwhen a desired compaction is not being achieved.
 21. A method, as setforth in claim 20, further comprising the step of determining a cause ofsaid desired compaction not being achieved.
 22. A method, as set forthin claim 20, further comprising the step of assigning a second machineto compact a region previously compacted by a first machine.
 23. Amethod, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of managing saidcompaction further comprises the step of modifying a predictedcompaction performance characteristic in response to a current moisturelevel of said soil.
 24. A method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein thestep of determining a predicted performance characteristic includesmaking the determination in response to a predicted rainfall.
 25. Amethod, as set forth in claim 24, further comprising the step ofmodifying said predicted performance characteristic in response to aprevious rainfall.
 26. A method of predicting a compactioncharacteristic needed to achieve a desired soil compaction of a soil,comprising the steps of: establishing a soil characteristic of saidsoil; comparing said soil characteristic with a soil characteristic of apreviously compacted soil; determining said predicted compactioncharacteristic of said soil in response to said comparison.
 27. Amethod, as set forth in claim 26, wherein said predicted compactioncharacteristic includes at least one of a number of passes needed toachieve said desired soil compaction, a lift thickness, a number oflifts, and a machine type to perform said desired soil compaction.
 28. Amethod, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said comparison furthercomprises the step of selecting a previously compacted soil from aplurality of previously compacted soils, said previously compacted soilhaving an actual compaction characteristic.
 29. A method, as set forthin claim 28, wherein the step of establishing said predicted compactionperformance characteristic further comprises the step of establishingsaid predicted compaction performance characteristic in response to saidpreviously compacted soil characteristic and said previously compactedactual compaction characteristic.
 30. A method, as set forth in claim29, wherein the step of establishing said predicted compactionperformance characteristic further comprises the step of establishingsaid predicted compaction performance characteristic in response to saidpreviously compacted soil characteristic, said previously compactedactual compaction characteristic, and at least one of a lift thickness,number of lifts, lift measurement, depth of lift measurement, locationof said soil characteristic, predicted rainfall, and a standard ofcompaction.
 31. A method, as set forth in claim 26, wherein saidpredicted compaction performance characteristic includes at least one ofa recommended number of lifts, a recommended number of mats, arecommended lift thickness, a mat thickness, a recommended lift materialtype, and a recommended additive material.
 32. A method, as set forth inclaim 26, wherein said predicted compaction performance characteristicincludes a productivity characteristic.
 33. A method, as set forth inclaim 26, wherein said productivity characteristic includes at least oneof a number of machines to perform said compaction, a type of machinesto perform said compaction, a route of a machine performing saidcompaction, a time characteristic of said compaction, a predictedcompaction yards per hour, a cost characteristic associated with saidcompaction, a compaction profile based on a number and a type ofmachines.
 34. A method, as set forth in claim 28, further comprising thestep of modifying said predicted compaction performance characteristicin response to a recent rainfall.
 35. A method, as set forth in claim28, further comprising the step of modifying said machine selection inresponse to a recent rainfall.
 36. A method of compacting a soilcomprising the steps of: traversing a compaction region in response toan initial compaction plan; determining a soil characteristic duringsaid traversal; and modifying said compaction plan in response to saidsoil characteristic.
 37. A method, as set forth in claim 36, furthercomprising the step of identifying a compaction anomaly in response tosaid characteristic.
 38. A method, as set forth in claim 37, wherein thestep of identifying a compaction anomaly includes the steps of:determining a first soil characteristic in a first traversed region,said first traversed region being a subset of said compaction region;determining a second soil characteristic in a second traversed region,said second traversed region being a subset of said compaction region;comparing said first soil characteristic, said second soilcharacteristic and a predicted soil characteristic; and determining saidanomaly in response to said comparison.
 39. A method, as set forth inclaim 38, wherein the step of determining said anomaly further comprisesthe step of determining said anomaly when said first soil characteristicis within a threshold of said predicted soil characteristic, and saidsecond soil characteristic is not within a compaction threshold value ofsaid first soil characteristic.
 40. A method, as set forth in claim 39,wherein the step of modifying said compaction plan further comprises thestep of recommending at least one of a different machine for compactingsaid anomaly, recommending an excavation of said anomaly, andrecommending an additive for said anomaly.
 41. A method, as set forth inclaim 36, wherein said soil characteristic is determined in response toat least one of a machine rolling resistance, a machine internal loss, amachine fluid pressure, a machine fluid flow rate, an orientationsensor, a ground speed, and a location indicator.
 42. A method ofcompacting a soil comprising the steps of: traversing a compactionregion; determining a soil characteristic during said traversal; andcreating a compaction plan in response to said soil characteristic.